Max and Cole Ellis, portrayed by Giacomo Gianniotti, listen intently to a haunting recording where a man brazenly confesses to the random slaying of Cole’s beloved brother, Daniel. The man’s sneering voice brags about his invisibility to the murder’s aftermath, leaving no trace linking him to the crime. Max reveals the origin of the recording—Albert’s collection. Ellis, reminding her of her previous assertion that those recordings were lost, expresses disbelief. She fervently asserts her honesty, stressing that she would never deceive him on such a matter. Skeptical, he accuses her of being a figment of his imagination, void of any authenticity. She counters by proposing a collaborative effort to uncover Daniel’s killer. Unyielding, he insists on escorting her to the precinct.
As they make their way to the police station, Ellis confesses to shattering the counterfeit egg to prove its falsity. She pleads with him to see the bigger picture and warns that her arrest could spell disaster for him. After a heated exchange, Max proposes a deal: she will hand over the genuine egg in exchange for her liberty. He reluctantly agrees, stipulating one more condition—they must sever all ties forever. He promptly reverses the car’s direction.
Shortly thereafter, Max and Ellis rendezvous with Ricky Wilson (played by Fletcher Donovan) in a secluded parking lot. Ricky, clad in a stained shirt, hands over a case and expresses his skepticism about Max’s word not to arrest him. Max assures him of his solemn promise. Ellis, with a touch of sarcasm, remarks that unlike them, Max’s word holds weight. On a more somber note, Ricky expresses his earnest hope that Daniel’s killer will be brought to justice.
After reviewing the recording, Chief Li (portrayed by Terry Chen) confronts Max, recalling her report of the missing USB stick. She fabricates a story, claiming it was nestled in the sofa cushions and may have fallen from Albert’s pocket. Not fully convinced, Li dismisses her claims. Detective Simmons (Michael Xavier) informs Max that Graves’ security detail will retrieve the imperial egg within the next quarter-hour. Grabbing an evidence bag, she pretenses to have incriminating evidence against Ellis. With Toni handing her a paper to sign and unlocking the door, Max slyly slips the egg into the Graves evidence box.
Upon her departure, Max encounters Detective Yates (Amy Goodmurphy), who inquires about her presence. Max claims she has filed evidence pertaining to Ellis. Yates reveals a peculiar betting habit among the staff, guessing the names of unidentified corpses, and mentions Uriah Heep as the latest entrant. After receiving a notification about Graves’ team’s arrival, Yates dashes off to secure the egg. Max then phones George Graham (Jason Priestley), incarcerated, to update him on Uriah Heep. Concluding that call, she dials Ricky to inquire about the egg’s status.
Elsewhere, Li informs Ellis that analyzing the vast amount of mob chatter stored on the USB will be a lengthy process. Ellis, desperate, implores him to intervene with the director to expedite the investigation into Daniel’s case. Li, citing a conflict of interest, declines direct involvement but promises to monitor the situation closely. Ellis relays to Max that the egg is desperately needed back. She informs him that it has already been logged into the evidence.Commissioner Russo (Karin Konoval) announces her intention to run for mayor to Li, Ellis, and Max, her voice tinged with worry about a robbery gang that has lost its getaway driver in a fateful crash. Despite Li's revelation that they've been unable to identify the driver, Russo assigns the task of tracking down the gang to Ellis and Max. Ellis, seeking to return to his regular duties, voices his request, only to be sternly warned by Russo against disobeying a direct order. Max protests, citing her busy schedule, but Russo retaliates with the threat of revoking her probation for withholding evidence. Max counters, arguing there is no evidence and pleading for a six-month sentence reduction for George. Russo compromised, agreeing to a two-week reduction, which Max reluctantly accepted.
Shortly thereafter, Li convenes a meeting with Yates, Simmons, Max, and Ellis to discuss the gang robbery case. Simmons elucidates how the suspects cleverly used infrared strobes on their hats to blind the security cameras, rendering their faces unrecognizable. The gang had stolen an array of items, including sheet metal, a high-intensity magnet, and an electromagnetic pulse generator. Simmons urges Ellis to allow the organized task force to handle their responsibilities while he focuses on his own case.
At the morgue, amidst Heep's belongings, Max scrutinizes items while Maddy (Katie Findlay) informs Ellis of the discovery of nitromethane, a fuel additive, on the getaway driver's skin. Ellis shares this insight with Li, explaining that nitromethane is commonly used by street racers. Max reassures Ellis that she can gain access to the racing scene, but they require a racecar. Ellis signs for a sports car, with Max insisting on taking the wheel. She calls Ricky and tasks him with procuring racing gear, while Ellis, seizing his phone, asks Ricky to uncover Daniel's killer. Ricky's sarcastic rejoinder about manners is cut short when the line goes dead. Max warns Ellis that he risks losing everything, to which he accuses her of feigning concern for his welfare. She responds by pressing down hard on the accelerator.
Arriving at Elite Drive Automotive, they find a garage run by Nadia Evans (Marie Avgeropoulos) and Ryan Stelgan, the latter of whom served five years in prison for robbery. Using aliases Danny and Ted, they attempt to procure a get but are swiftly turned away. Ellis boasts of his expertise in patching bullet holes using high methanol alcohol content to prevent adhesive from sticking to fiberglass. Intrigued, Ryan tells them to leave their number.
Later, Ryan issues a challenge to Max for a street race. Ellis warns her that Ryan's car is equipped with a nitro mod, while she boasts of her experience with a Formula One crew. Skeptical, Ellis questions her claims. As the countdown commences, the police arrive on the scene. Ellis leaps into the car with Max, while Nadia joins Ryan. The cars zoom down the road with the police in hot pursuit. Max takes the lead, with Ryan pulling alongside. Ellis instructs Ryan to veer left to distract the police. Nadia appears relieved as they shake off the police. Max performs donuts on the road before engaging the police in another high-speed chase. She veers off the road, allowing the police to speed past them. Ryan and Nadia text them to confirm their participation.Li informs Max and Ellis that a tactical squad will stand by, poised for action during Ryan and Nadia's upcoming mission. Confessing his indulgence, Max reveals he's purchased two pairs of racing gloves at the department's expense. Later, at the garage, Ellis and Max witness Ryan and one of his associates with the pilfered EMP device. Ryan asserts that their orders emanate from Jaws, with him and Nadia overseeing the operation. Jaws entices them with a million dollars each, an offer they eagerly embrace. In a hushed conversation, Ryan and Nadia confer with Jaws, Nadia's distress evident. Piqued by her agitation, Max insists on uncovering more details. Meanwhile, Ellis hops into the car and alerts Li about Jaws. Secretly eavesdropping, Max catches snippets of Ryan and Nadia's phone chat with their son, Jacob (played by William Kosovic), who is being held captive. A hooded figure approaches Max, and the screen plunges into darkness. Ryan reassures Nadia that they will rescue Jacob.
Ellis receives a call from Ricky, who decodes the clicking sound in the audio recording as a Zippo lighter. By isolating the dialogue and analyzing its acoustics, Ricky determines the recording was captured in a pool hall, pinpointing the culprit as Billy "Zippo" O'Brien, a feared mob enforcer. Ellie instructions Ricky to track down Zippo's whereabouts. Max fills Ellis in on Jacob's plight and summons the tactical team. When Li and his squad arrive, the garage stands deserted. Li tries reaching Ellis, but there's no response.
Elsewhere, Jaws interrogates who tipped off the police. Nadia claims they overheard it on a scanner, while Ryan vows it wasn't Ellis or Max. Tommy cautions that this could be a warning, suggesting they lay low. Jaws insists this is their one shot. Ryan, Nadia, Max, and Ellis affirm their commitment. After Jaws departs, Ryan warns that if Jaws discovers their true identities as cops, Jacob's fate will be sealed. Ellis emphasizes they had no alternative. Ryan reveals his past with Jaws, working for him until his arrest. Upon release, they ventured into legitimate business, but Jaws recruited them to assemble a top-notch crew. They declined, prompting Jaws to abduct Jacob. Ryan later elaborates on the heist's execution plan.
Jaws hands each crew member a sleek briefcase, brimming with half a million dollars. Nadia snaps a photo of Jacob and forwards it to Max. As Jaws unveils a state-of-the-art offset printer, Ellis speculates that it churns out counterfeit money and stocks indistinguishable from the genuine articles. With a hint of smugness, Jaws declares himself the answer to the underworld's printing prayers. Max acknowledges his brilliance, while Ryan inquires anxiously about their son's whereabouts. Nadia insists they've fulfilled every demand, yet Jaws remains steadfast in his refusal to reveal the boy's location.
Max discreetly begins manipulating Nadia's phone, while Jaws assures them of the remaining payment upon his safe departure, promising to drop a pin leading to their son's hideout. Ellis protests, reminding Jaws they signed up for a heist, not a kidnapping. Jaws retorts by brandishing a gun at him, reminding Ellis of his insignificance. Max echoes Ellis' plea, urging Jaws to depart peacefully.
In the car, Max shares her discovery with Ellis: Jacob's glasses reflect a rusted radio tower in the screenshot, identifiable online as situated near an abandoned transmitter building. Coincidentally, Ellis knows precisely where the tower stands. Just then, Ricky calls, revealing Daniel's killer's last known location at a motel, leaving Max and Ellis with a heart-wrenching dilemma—rescue the boy or apprehend Daniel's murderer.
In a swift decision, Ellis confronts a man inside the radio tower, shooting him and carrying the boy outside just as Ryan and Nadia arrive, followed by other officers. Ellis receives a call informing him that Zippo, the fugitive, has hijacked a prop plane at gunpoint. Detective Simmons updates them that Jaws is on the run, tracked by Yates, while the plane's transponder ceased signaling five miles from the airport.
Back at the office, Chief Li grills Ellis, but Max steps in, weaving a tale that Simmons was informed while Ellis remained unaware. Simmons enters the room, confirming Max's story. Ellis frets about Zippo's whereabouts, now a mystery. Privately, Chief Li confronts Ellis, acknowledging Max's intervention and their awareness of her lie.
Later, Russo praises the team for apprehending the gang and seizing six million in cash, reducing Max's father's sentence by two weeks. Russo expresses delight at Max and Ellis' continued collaboration. In private, Ellis thanks Max, hinting at a request for the Mustang, which Max politely declines. George confronts Max about her persistence, prompting her to reveal a watch taken from Uriah Heep, hinting at a potential windfall far exceeding 33 million dollars.
